Q&A: Raheaven Explores Fusions of R&B-esque Afro Swings Powered By Bold Representations of Womanhood in Her Latest EP, ‘THROAT GAME STUPID!’
LAYERED WITH NUANCES OF ERITREAN-INSPIRED MELODIES — merging hip-hop and rap amidst an exploration of bold, baddie womanhood, Raheaven’s latest EP, THROAT GAME STUPID! is a powerful portrayal of a unique artistic approach to hip-hop. Having recently dropped her first EP just over a year ago, 2PERSONAL is a solid embodiment of Raheaven’s inspirations, which now provides the foundations shaped by R&B-esque afro swing fused with hypnotic hip-hop beats, enticing listeners to resonate and relay Raheaven’s integral message throughout her music. With THROAT GAME STUPID!, she inspires us to step on up and take control.
Inspired by the likes of Nicki Minaj and Beyonce, just to name a few, at the core of Raheaven’s influences is her Eritrean heritage. Influencing her in a way she “can’t explain,” Raheaven’s artistry is a powerful representation of her past, present, and future, building a bridge to her musical past rooted within her parent’s arrival to London back in the ’80s.
With hopes to openly illustrate and simultaneously build upon the emotive sentiment within herself and of course her music, this is only just the beginning of Raheaven’s boldly unapologetic artistry. Read below to learn more about THROAT GAME STUPID! and Raheaven’s upcoming plans for the year ahead.
LUNA: Hey Raheaven! Congrats on the release of your upcoming EP. Can you tell us more about your journey leading up to this moment as an artist and how you first started out into the industry?
RAHEAVEN: Hi! Thanks! I’ve always had a spiritual and emotional connection to music since I was a child and that developed into me writing songs and then eventually working with others to write and record my own music. I dropped my first official EP in March last year and have been working on my second since.
LUNA: Listening to songs such as “Talk Back,” you sing about some pretty poignant, personal emotions, with lyrics such as, “You don’t want to change your heart, you don’t want to play the part.” Despite the chill, hypnotic beats of the instrumental, is there a reason you use this hip-hop element in contrast, sonically, within your music as a backdrop to some rather personal lyrics and themes?
RAHEAVEN: I think the trap/hip-hop style beat adds to the nonchalant feel of the song and lyrics in a way — for me, it didn’t make sense to sing anything else on that beat, it also shows the baddie attitude and vibe … it was my take on a trap/hip-hop style song as I love listening to music in those genres.
LUNA: With the release of your single “Better,” how would you say the song compares to accompanying songs on the EP? What are you most excited about with this release in particular?
RAHEAVEN: For me, “Better” stands out as a stand-alone song — the lyrics and message of the song are very clear and explicit, whereas the other songs dip in and out of different feelings and themes. There’s no way to understand what I’m saying in “Better” — I think it's the perfect mid-tempo R&B song for me with a clear message: Are you gonna step up?
LUNA: You’ve obviously been no stranger to the music scene with your parents forming a band upon their arrival to London from Eritrea back in the ’80s. How would you say your inspiration has been drawn from your family in comparison to fellow artists who have also inspired you (such as the likes of Elsa Kidane and Helen Meles) throughout your career so far?
RAHEAVEN: I think my cultural and familial influence has influenced me in a way that I can’t explain. I believe that those influences are ingrained in me and are naturally a part of me, so I don't really notice until I'm asked these kinds of questions! I definitely have embodied some riffs and runs from Eritrean artists, and I think sometimes my delivery comes across similar to those artists, too, when I sing.
LUNA: At the beginning of tracks such as “Touch It,” the opening seems to have an almost natural feel to it with what appears to be elements of bird song before merging into the chill hip-hop beat. What inspires the instrumentals behind the tracks, and what influence do they have within your songs in comparison to lyricism, would you say?
RAHEAVEN: “Touch It” actually has an afro swing to it in the drums but all other production elements are quite natural and R&B-esque, including my choice of melodies and lyrics. I wanted to try something new but make it my own. Every track on this EP similar to my last has a different feel, and I'm trying to take R&B to a new room, whether that’s old school R&B, hip-hop, trap, afro swing, pop, etc. In terms of lyrics, it just depends on how the beat makes me feel! “Touch It” made me want to be a little fun and flirty, whereas “Better” was giving me more of an old school Jay-Z and Beyonce, Bonnie and Clyde feel.
I merged myself into different genres with every single song on the EP and did them my way. I wanted to experiment with the other genres that I love: hip-hop, trap, R&B, pop, and afro swing.
LUNA: Are there any particular pinpoint moments or inspirations within your life that still have a great influence on how you write your music or the themes surrounding them?
RAHEAVEN: The first time I heard “Itty Bitty Piggy” by Nicki Minaj was when I was a teen. That song is so iconic to me because it reminds me to stay creative and just have fun with it; she's talking about all these crazy things, but it all makes sense because she’s rapping it all with conviction. Also, the first time listening to Frank Ocean’s The Lonny Breaux tape, as I think they were all demos that he did not intend on releasing, but I love listening to it because it reminds me that each artist has a process, and it was important for me to see his as he is one of the greatest artists of all time.
LUNA: What kind of visuals can we expect to accompany the EP? What is your style or aesthetic as an artist influenced by, if anything?
RAHEAVEN: I’m hoping for a visual that compliments the chroma/color gradient schemes that I have as my song artworks. I want the visuals to be heavily focused on that as I picked the artwork gradients based on how each song makes me feel.
LUNA: Besides the release of “Better” and your upcoming EP, are there any other projects that you would like to talk about for the year ahead?
RAHEAVEN: I’m currently working on my next project — I like to stay one project ahead usually — this next one I’m manifesting is more earthy, warm, and more live/organic–sounding instruments, and I am being more intentional with what I create … I’m heavily focusing on conveying emotions rather than trying to make a “good song.” I can write a song with my eyes closed now so I don't need to worry about that, it's more about connecting emotionally for me now; I'm also experiencing new things, so I hope to make new vibes.
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